Water motor



March 4, 1930. T. T. RANDMx-:Tz 1,749,506

WATER MOTOR Filed July 5, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 4. 1930. T, T RANDMETZ l,749,506

WATER MOTOR Filed July 5, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 775er@ 7776000/1@ Wand/paz JNVENTOR.

BY ATTORNEYS.

March 4, 1930. T. T. RANDMETZ WATER MOTOR Filed July 5, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet Memo 7/76000/'6 Fav/7 077762 -z,

IN1/EN T012.

q BY @jaw/f A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER MOTOR Application tiled July 5, 1927. Serial No. 203,529.

This invention relates to a water motor, and has for its primary object the construction of a water motor that may be positioned to be effectively operated by the current of a flowing stream.

An object of the invention is the design of a water motor having an upper and lower stretch of impellers successively passing to an active submerged position within the water'and to an inactive position above the water. y

Another object of the invention is the novel construction ot mechanism for raising and lowering the position of the impellers to control the action of the water thereupon.

Besides the above, my invention is distinguished in the novel construction of an impeller device including a plurality of impellers, and a plurality of floats alternating with each other so as to assure the proper submergence of the impellers within the water.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be better understood from a description of the same when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved water motor;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of oneend portion;

Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating the position ofthe rack and associated parts;

Figure i is a cross sectional view of the rack bar; Y

Figure 5 is an end elevation;

Figure 6 is a detail view of the floats.

Again referring to the drawings illustrating one ot the many constructions of my in- 4o vention, the numeral 1 designates the end trames, each consisting of a base 2 and uprights 3 that are provided with slots 4. The main shafts 5 are slidably and adjustahly mounted in the slots 11 and have secured thereto any number of sprocketwheels 6, around which pass the sprocket chains 7, the latter a component part Ot my improved impeller device. Secured at spaced intervals to the sprocket chains 7 are the impellers 8 in the form of blades 9 extending transversely of the apparatus to be secured to a pair of the chains, as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. These wings are effectively held at right angles to the stretches of the chains b braces 10.

By re erring to Figure l, it will be noted that. one ot the main shafts 5 has additionally connected thereto a drive gear 11 meshing with the drive chain 12 that passes around an idle gear 13 and a driven gear 14, the latter 6o mounted on a power shaft 15.

As far as I have proceeded, it will be appreciated that in the submergence of the impellers into a stream or other moving body of water.I the impellers will be moved along with the current and due to their rigid connection with the sprocket chains 7, the sprocket wheels 6 will be rotated, and through the driven gear 11` drive chain 12 and driven gear 14 the shaft 15 will be oper- 70 ated. Due to the ratio ot the different gears and the power of the current of the stream, it will be appreciated that considerable power can be taken from the shaft 15. As the level of a stream rises and falls under certain conditions, it is a decided advantage to be able to adjust the lower stretch of the chain relative to the body of water.

To accomplish proper positioning of the chains, I have illustrated a novel form of adjusting mechanism 16 upon `each end frame. and as the two mechanisms are of identical construction the following description will cover both. Each of the shafts 5 is jeurnaled in the bearings 17, whichl are 55 mounted or Jformed upon rack bars 18 that are slidably mounted in the uprights 3. Meshing with the rack bars 18 upon each end frame are lpinions 19 carried upon a shaft 20 o that has connected thereto a hand wheel 21 for rotating the same. Ot course, it is to be understood that upon turning of the hand wheel the rack bars can be raised or lowered due to their engagement with the pinions 19, g5 and AFor the purpose of holding the rack bars in any of their adjusted positions provide a novel form ot lock device 22 which consists of a latch head 23 cooperating with a. series ot notches 24 formed in the rack bar and norice mally pressed into4 engagement with the notches by the properly placed spring 25.,

For the purpose of manipulating this latch Q3, I provide a plunger 26 rigidly secured to the latch and terminating in a knob 27,` the plunger being slidably mounted in a bracket Q8, so that the knob may be readily grasped and pulled in the proper direction to retract the latch from the engaged notches.

In Figure 6, I have illustrated a plurality of floats 29 directly secured to the sprocket chain and alternately' with the impellcrs for the purpose of limiting the submerging of the. impellers irrespective of the length of the lower stretch of the sprocket chain. This assures the impellers being submerged the proper distance to be properly operated and besides enables the apparatus to be more effectively used in shallow streams. v

In concluding, .I wish to forcibly set forth that the exact construction, formation and connection of the various parts may be accomplished in various other manners than illustrated, as the basic feature of my invention residesin the provision of a set of impellers traveling in an upper and lower group formation to successively enter and leave the body of water, in combination with any suit able form of mechanism for raising and lowering the impellers to control the depth of submergence. Therefore, I do not desire to be limited in any manner except as set forth in the following claims.

I claim 1. A water motor comprising a pair of spaced uprights, spaced sprockets journaled in fixed bearings beside one upright, an endless sprocket chain passing over the sprockets a'nd forming a substantially vertical lap between the sprockets, members vertically slidable upon the uprights, means to adjust the members slidably, a shaft journaled in one pair of said members, and movable therewith, a sprocket carried by the shaft in inthe vertical lap of the sprocket chain at any position of adjustment, a second sprocket mounted upon said shaft, a second pair of spaced uprights, racks movable in said second pair of uprights, a shaft journaled in and vertically movable with said racks, a third sprocket carried by said s haft., and an endless current engaging organization passing over and about the second and third mentioned sprockets.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

THENO THEODORE RANDMETZ.

terengagement with the vertical lap of the s'procket chain at any position of adjustment, a second sprocket member on said shaft, a

second pair of spaced uprights, a shaft journaled and vertically adjustable on said second pair of uprio'hts, a third sprocket carried by said shaft, and an endless current engaging organization passing 'over andv about the second and third mentioned sprockets.

2. A water motor'comprising a pair of spaced uprights, spaced sprockets journaled in fixed bearin s beside one upright, an endless sprocket c ain passing over the sprockets and forming a substantially vertical lap between the sprockets, racks slidable vertically upon the upri hts, means engaging the racks for slidatly adjusting said racks, a shaft journaled in one pair of said racks and movable therewith, a sprocket can ried by the shaft in interengagement with 

